The Greenville times. [volume] (Greenville, Miss.) 1868-1917, 1887-12-03
THOUGHTS on Serious Questions.
For the TnlEsI

DANAN eHit AvH5 hct VI htAee u SNNA9
one of whom the day of death came at
last, the feeling is like to that with
which we read of those great buildings
of antiquity of which there now re-
mains not one stone upon another.
Coming onward, when we read Of the
mighty men of old, prophets, priests,
princes, saints and martyrs, after we
have awhile pondered their deeds and
wondered, perhaps, at their splendor,
we peruse the record Of their deaths
with comparatively little interest, be-
slowing upon them momentary reflec-
ton such as may have been excited
within us by some glorious sunset, the
closing of day, long since, and which
can never be recalled. And yet, if the
Bible be true, will these kings, proph-
cts, priests, princes, saints and martyrs,
meet again with men who now
walk the earth with life's full vigor.
Not one of the vast army has ceased to
be. True soldier or base rebel, each one
lives, lives as surely as each of us lives.
And so, all who have drawn breath
since the world began are gathered to-
gether in that unknown land beyond
the grave. Adam lives. Bring your
eye down the roll of ancient nations.
Take, for your starting point, the Bible
history and follow ON until modern
times in short, let the history of the
world fit before your minds eye, and
then try and grasp the fact that not
single human being who has had life is
dead but that he still lives-lives now,
lives while you read.
We know that Heaven has its lnhab-
itants and also Sheol. For men dwell
ing upon earth await in an intermedi-
ate state for the Judgment. But good
angels walk in Heaven and fiends
crouch in Sheol. At this instant of
Of time the songs Of these bright spir-
its who have kept their first estate is
heard in Heaven, and the fierce de-
spairing cry rings forth from the BAN
ished and the lost. While we profess
to believe all that the Bible teaches us
in regard to the mighty scenes enacting
beyond that mysterious blue canopy
above us, we, nevertheless, scarce be-
stow thought upon these things
wherein we avow our belief and
have faith. We have, within us, a
vague idea of great change to ensuc
some day--a change to ourselves when
our bodies will be placed in theii
graves and in some remote region and
in some mysterious manner our spirits
shall continue to live, but when we arc
told of the eternal world existing now
of archangels and angels surrounding
now the throne which is heaven, anC
when we hear Of the great First Causc
as filling all space yesterday, to-day
and tomorrow, do we really believe
1
: it? Beyond the grave, as ON this side
no confusion of existence has arisen
Each spirit, in bliss or misery, is, as W.
are taught, clear and distinct from hi
neighbor as it was upon earth. 1t is
countless multitude, but yet every sou
holds its own JOY or bears its own bur
den of sorrow. 1t is an innumerabl,
army, but each member of it has hi
place. All of the planets and TIN
innumerable stars that revolve our sun
= may be but few of all that are in tn,
immensity of space and may be nhab
tied and have sinned, and the sam,
Saviour may have appeared to then
/. and an immense multitude of the re
= deemed of other worlds rejoice will
them who in this are blessed. How
the Christians heart must throb il
alteration. love and reverence to tn
! greet and loving Being who has givel
e him the hope and promise of beinl
forever with those of this and othe
worlds who are redeemed by faitI
and D life of Christian duty. The tu
ture, there is no future, everything
present the moment when the consum
i. inc flame shall first cast its dull AM
! awful glare over the earth before
l shall embrace and overwhelm it
known. Whether those other world
of which we have spoken shall underg
change is known. The time of th
!, downfall of evil and permanent en-
thrQnement of holiness and truth
known. All is known. We believ
e that good angels, in sense, guard tn
loval and true. TO them 1t may b
committed as an employment ine'
pressibly glorious to be ever near tn
: Christian warrior. At night then, {
in the day, would these blest spirits J
found on the watch. Always nca
, always near, they may be sheildin
i and protecting and sustaining, thoue
: the eve cannot see them. They mi
N close the eye in the coming day, an
1t their bright task complete. may carr
the spirit home.
It. Can evil angels be with us to! C'
= there be friend at our side marldl
MS? If he has been with us in the da
, he may tarry through The night, 1t
an appalling idea. Good angels waite
I ing. Bad angels watching. The "
tory uncertain to us and TO them, b